How to stop a cat from scratching walls

You love your cat and you love the home you live in with your cat. But what do you do when the cat you love is scratching the walls of the home you love? The simple answer is you can’t stop a natural feline behavior, but there are things you can do to redirect and retrain this instinct. Keep reading to get the tips, tricks and products to help stop your cat from scratching your walls.

Table of Contents

Why is my cat scratching the walls?

When it comes to cats scratching furniture, we often think our furry friends direct this normal, yet destructive, behavior on things like the sofa or the carpet. So when the walls of your home look like they have been redecorated with lines and marks, you’re left scratching your head with frustration.

But the truth is all cat breeds scratch. So the best way to learn how to redirect this innate behavior is to better understand why they do it. And the answers are usually in the details. When you see your cat on their hind legs, stretched out in full scratch mode on your wall, it may remind you of an exercise move you’ve done yourself. But for cats, scratching is one of the key ways to move and exercise their bodies.

As well as for exercise, cats use scratching as a way to clean up their nails, burn off any stress and anxiety or simply just a way to cure boredom. For cats, the act of scratching feels good on their claws, paws and their bodies. But this doesn’t mean you’ll be stuck living with torn-up walls. With cat scratching posts such as the Stak Cat Scratcher, you can quickly get back to clean walls while your cat gets back to scratching.

2 reasons cats scratch walls after feeding time

Does your cat take to the walls after they’ve eaten dinner? There are two main reasons they’re exhibiting this specific behavior:

Picky kitty: Your cat can’t talk, so if they have something to say they’ll do so with actions. And when it comes to cat food that they dislike or are bored of, that communication may come through in the form of scratching the walls after dinner. It’s kind of their way of saying, “Thanks, but no thanks.” So if you notice post-meal scratches, try and change up their cat food and see if that resolves the problem.
Scratch marks the spot: Another reason your feline may fancy the walls after feasting is to let any other animals in the house know that this is their food and to stay away. Politely, of course. Cats use scratching as a way of marking territory and with tiny scent glands located on their paws, they can sometimes scratch around their food bowls to instinctively send a message that this feeding zone is off limits.

3 reasons cats scratch walls around their litter box

Most cats are bathroom ninjas. With stealth-like maneuvers, they quietly get in, get out and get on with their day without you ever noticing they used their cat litter box. So if you start hearing scratching noises coming from the litter box, there are a few explanations for why:

The litter is full – Our cats are great companions but they’re also great communicators – if you know how to listen to their clues. So if you notice your cat suddenly scratching at the walls by their bathroom it could mean they’re telling you the litter box needs to be cleaned. A quick refresh of new cat litter should solve the problem and get your cat back to happy bathroom behavior.
Feline flushing – In the wild, cats don’t have a litter box to ‘do their business’ in. But they know that ‘their business’ leaves a distinct scent, so in order to prevent predators from picking up their location, they scratch leaves and dirt to cover it up. And even though we have domesticated the wild out of the cats, that instinctual knowing remains, so cats will scratch at the litter to cover up ‘their business’ in the litter box.
Perfect paws – What’s the first thing you do after using the bathroom? We hope your answer is “wash my hands”. Well, your cat likes to have the same level of hygiene. Often, cats will scratch the walls around the litter box as a way to clean their paws and remove any excess litter bits that get trapped between their toes.

One of the best ways to combat wall scratching by the litter box is to get your cat one that solves all these problems. With the Maya Litter Box, designed by Omlet, your cat not only gets a private potty retreat, but the easy-to-clean and anti-tracking liners make your job easier, too.

4 ways to stop your cat from scratching the walls

The fact is there’s no one surefire way to stop your cat from scratching the walls. But here are 4 ways we have uncovered that are sure to redirect your cat’s habits.

1. Install a wall-mounted scratcher

If you can’t stop your cat from scratching your walls, why not just give them what they want? Introducing the Stak wall-mounted cat scratcher, designed by Omlet. An ingenious design that meets your cat exactly where they are – at the wall.

Made from a durable cardboard that’s both recyclable and replaceable, your cat will be left satisfied after every scratch. And bonus – the sleek bamboo design makes this wall addition a welcomed upgrade to your cat and your interior.

2. Create new climbing spots

In addition to being natural scratchers, cats are also natural climbers. And when they aren’t given ways to explore these natural behaviors, they’ll inevitably turn to doing things you don’t like such as scratching walls, furniture and floors. One of the best ways you can curb your kitty’s scratching is with a climbing tower.

The Freestyle Indoor Cat Tree is the answer to every cat’s prayer as it provides all the fun and adventure they seek in one complete unit. Designed with your cat’s needs in mind, we engineered this cat tower to be completely customizable with a variety of different cat tree accessories so your cat can climb, scratch and snooze their way to happiness.

3. Give more attention and exercise

As cat owners, we know that life can get busy, and sometimes playtime with Kitty can get put on the back burner. But we also know that this lack of attention can lead to frustrating results, so it’s important to always pencil in some time each day for extra feline play.

To help stop your cat from scratching the walls, try giving them just a few more minutes each day of your undivided attention and see how their scratch time might turn into more snooze time. Even just a quick game of hide and see the cat toy will engage your furry friend enough to limit the destructive behavior and engage their need for attention and exercise.

4. Spray a citrus solution

Ahhh…the sweet summer scents of citrus. For humans, this smell is delightful and aromatic. But for cats, the smell of citrus is downright repulsive. So to stop your cat from scratching the walls – or any other surface or object – simply spray a citrus location all over and watch your cat give it the cold shoulder.

You can buy a premade solution from the store, or try concocting your own spray at home. Just fill a spray bottle with water, lemon juice and the peel of an orange to create a scent your cat won’t scratch.

Caring for your cat with Omlet

At Omlet, understanding your cat’s behaviors and natural instincts is part of our business. It’s how we challenge the pet care norm and create products that give your cat exactly what they need and what they want. From stylish and durable cat scratchers, to adventurous cat climbing towers and outdoor cat playgrounds, we’ve scratched every possible way to meet your cat’s needs. And when your cat is happy, you are happy and there really is no better feeling than that.